After zoning was approved in October 2022 for the proposed Wawa gas station and convenience store in Estero Town Commons, the project’s applicant presented during the public information portion of Tuesday’s Estero Planning, Zoning and Design Board meeting. 

The 5,537-square-foot Wawa with 12 fueling pumps and a monument sign is proposed on the south side of Corkscrew Road on the parcel previously occupied by Ruby Tuesday in the Lowe’s-anchored retail center.  

Improvements proposed are parking, signage, trash enclosure and landscaping. There will be two accesses, which are the already existing right turn-in only from eastbound Corkscrew Road and full access to the south from Three Oaks Parkway. 

There will also be landscaping on all four sides of the property with frontage landscaping on three sides of the property. Tree choices consist of magnolias and cypresses to ensure the trees can withstand rainy season. Palms and grasses are proposed for consistency with adjacent developments. 

Board Chairman Scotty Wood suggested the applicant, Tampa-based Brightwork Real Estate, return with the sizes of the landscape planting materials. Appropriate landscaping on the site was emphasized during the rezoning process last year since landscaping around the rest of the shopping center is already established. 

“It is important to us, particularly in a shopping center that’s already mature,” board member Jim Wallace said. “You don’t want to look funny compared to everyone else”.  

Project landscape designer Amani Robinson said the trees planted will be coming in at a 4-inch caliper. 

During the rezoning process, both the board and Village Council were concerned with how Wawa’s signature tilted canopy design would fit into the surrounding developments. Since then, the fuel canopy was custom designed as a dual-sloped-arched roof to meet Estero’s land development code requirements, a change from the gas station’s trademark single-slope roof.  

Since the presentation was part of a public information meeting, no vote was taken, and the item will return to the board at a later date.  

“I think the building is looking good,” board member Barry Jones said. “You’ve made a lot of changes and we appreciate the concessions from the typical prototype for Estero.”